There are dozens of ways to celebrate the early days of summer. But earlier this month, actress, Jordana Brewster, and Los Angeles Landscape Designer, Teryl Ciarlo, hosted a backyard garden party at Jordana’s Brentwood home, to show everyone how it’s done.

Situated along a winding canyon, guests walked up to the home’s entry to behold bold pink roses climbing along with an outdoor entry gate and stepped onto the property behind a beautiful home and a dirt pathway leading to the backyard space. The journey from entry to party was marked by a host of blue enchantress hydrangeas lining the path, a ficus privacy hedge and overhead, age-old trees offer up shade and ficus globes hang from their branches.

]]>https://www.teryldesigns.com/jordana-brewster-teryl-ciarlo-host-brentwood-garden-soiree/feed/0“Gardening is the Work of a Lifetime”https://www.teryldesigns.com/gardening-is-the-work-of-a-lifetime/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gardening-is-the-work-of-a-lifetime
Tue, 27 Mar 2018 22:37:43 +0000http://www.teryldesigns.com/?p=1369“Gardening is the work of a lifetime: you never finish.” – Oscar de la Renta Thank you Cottages & Bungalows Magazine for featuring my favorite space in the garden! I’m looking forward to using this space come springtime! For garden inspiration and landscape design ideas, read the full article HERE.

When landscape designer, Teryl Ciarlo first spotted a 1930’s cottage in Brentwood, she was drawn to its “old tradition charm and the big, beautiful yard.” As she surveyed the grounds surrounding the shingled cottage, she envisioned a profusion of boxwood globes, climbing roses, fruit trees, and a vegetable garden, all executed with organic gardening techniques. She also saw how the lines between the interiors of the cottage and the gardens could overlap: “As a landscape designer, I enjoy indoor to outdoor living,” she says. And Teryl knows how to create an A-list space.

If you’re looking to spruce up your outdoor space, a hanging succulent wall planter is a great way to do it. Los Angeles gardenista Teryl Ciarlo of Teryl Designs recommends Fishhook Senecio, Donkey’s Tail, Sticks on Fire, String of Hearts, and Kalanchoe for hanging wall succulents; her advice is to break off ¼ inch long cuttings from succulents you already own, or if you don’t already own succulents, purchase 4” succulent plants from your local nursery. Give the stems a few days in a cool area to dry and callus over. Then, fill a mesh frame with moist cactus mix, stick the cuttings or new succulents through the mesh so the stems are in the soil, and leave the frame in a cool area for 7-10 days to allow the plants to take root. After that, you can begin watering.

Summer evenings — perfect for al fresco dining and entertaining — will soon be here. And whether it’s for a family get-together for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, a graduation blowout bash or any other celebration, the backyard can be a wonderful place to entertain guests. It’s a setting that allows for bringing people together on a more personal level without the need to keep everything super-tidy.

One outdoor decor element that’s practical, and can be whimsical, is the lighting.

“Great surroundings really aren’t about the money. The outdoor area is about style,” said Teryl Ciarlo of Teryl Designs. “My dream garden is formal, surrounded by trees twinkling with the light of romantic hanging lanterns. A long farmhouse table sits atop clean gray gravel, inviting guests to gather and enjoy an outdoor fireplace. We’re surrounded by rows of manicured grass, climbing roses, clean boxwood hedge and a bench for a vantage point.”

]]>Gardens Explode for Palisades Garden Club Tourhttps://www.teryldesigns.com/gardens-explode-for-palisades-garden-club-tour/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gardens-explode-for-palisades-garden-club-tour
Thu, 03 Aug 2017 18:52:31 +0000http://www.teryldesigns.com/?p=1301Palisades News Brentwood Hidden Treasure Teri Ciarlo, owner of Teryl Designs Landscaping, has crafted a sanctuary in the back of a charming house in Brentwood that belies the fact it’s only a block off Sunset. The long, roomy backyard is equipped with a couch and a teak dining table and chairs. Colorful pillows and cushions […]

Teri Ciarlo, owner of Teryl Designs Landscaping, has crafted a sanctuary in the back of a charming house in Brentwood that belies the fact it’s only a block off Sunset.

The long, roomy backyard is equipped with a couch and a teak dining table and chairs. Colorful pillows and cushions make the area look festive, and contrast nicely with neutral gravel. Lush Brazilian pepper trees provide ample shade and privacy. In the back of the deep lot are an herb and vegetable garden, pink crepe myrtle and ceanothus. The pink lemonade tree was abundant with its distinctive variegated yellow and green fruit.

Ciarlo struggled with grass that never seemed to grow, and because of the afternoon shade, was always damp and wet. Replaced with high-quality, easily washable DuraTurf, the area has now become a hangout magnet for the owner’s twin teenage boys and the family dog. Plus, Ciarlo adds, it “saves water.”

The yard is punctuated by pops of color, from flowers such as hydrangeas and camellias as well as large, colorful vases and pots. Jacaranda, pittosporum, citrus and magnolia trees create an attractive canopy and add color.

A bench offers a meditative space, and wicker and wood furnishings and decorations add to the comfortable, cozy feel. Lights hanging from a tree help to create a little sanctuary and nighttime Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe.

]]>Outdoor lights that delight: How to brighten up summer get-togethershttps://www.teryldesigns.com/outdoor-lights-that-delight-how-to-brighten-up-summer-get-togethers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=outdoor-lights-that-delight-how-to-brighten-up-summer-get-togethers
https://www.teryldesigns.com/outdoor-lights-that-delight-how-to-brighten-up-summer-get-togethers/#respondThu, 03 Aug 2017 18:31:47 +0000http://www.teryldesigns.com/?p=1297LA Daily News By Suzanne Sproul, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Summer evenings — perfect for al fresco dining and entertaining — soon will be here. Whether it’s a family get-together for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, a graduation blowout bash or any other celebration, the backyard is a wonderful place to entertain guests. It’s a […]

Summer evenings — perfect for al fresco dining and entertaining — soon will be here. Whether it’s a family get-together for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, a graduation blowout bash or any other celebration, the backyard is a wonderful place to entertain guests. It’s a setting that allows for bringing people together on a more personal level without the need to keep everything super tidy.

Don’t discount rolling up your sleeves. “The best way will always be good old-fashioned elbow grease,” says Teryl Ciarlo of Teryl Designs. She advises trying to pull from beneath the soil, but waiting until after a rainstorm (when the ground is softer) can also help. Insert a knife or screwdriver in the soil to loosen any stubborn taproots.

]]>Take A Look Inside Actress Jordana Brewster’s Edible Home Gardenhttps://www.teryldesigns.com/take-a-look-inside-actress-jordana-brewsters-edible-home-garden/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=take-a-look-inside-actress-jordana-brewsters-edible-home-garden
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 22:48:48 +0000http://www.teryldesigns.com/?p=1282The Chaulkboard Photo Credit: Cindy Airey Take a peek inside Jordana Brewster’s edible garden at home and learn the kid-friendly gardening advice we picked up at her recent garden party… We recently joined actress Jordana Brewster for a garden party in her gorgeous Mandeville Canyon home. After spending a year working with Tery Ciarlo, […]

Take a peek inside Jordana Brewster’s edible garden at home and learn the kid-friendly gardening advice we picked up at her recent garden party…

We recently joined actress Jordana Brewster for a garden party in her gorgeous Mandeville Canyon home. After spending a year working with Tery Ciarlo, one of the Westside’s go-to landscape designers, the mama and hostess with the mostess opened up her newly-renovated garden space for a sweet summer gathering that still has us beaming.

The highlight of the space is a sustainably constructed, edible garden which inspired the drinks and snacks for the day. While basking in the beauty of fresh blooms and fruiting vines, guests stayed cool with herb-infused white wine cocktails from Sonoma-based Jardesca. Flavor combinations included orange and mint, grapefruit and rosemary, cucumber and basil, or mixed berries and lemon leaf.